While logging in to your Windows account, you may see the “Your credentials could not be verified.” error message has appeared as you input your account credentials. This can simply be a glitch in your account or there can be some issues with your NGC folder. Whatever may be the reason, you can just follow these easy solutions to find a quick fix for this issue.
Table of Contents
Fix 1 – Try the password
Windows offers not one, but multiple ways to sign in to your system. So, if the regular four-digit PIN doesn’t work, you can use your account password to log in. Follow these steps –
1. Start the computer and reach the Sign-In page.
2. Here, select your account from the list in the left-hand corner. Then, tap “Sign-in options“.
3. Now, click on the second icon to call the password box.
4. This brings up the password box. Now, you can input your account password and hit Enter.
This way, you can log in to your account using the password. Once you go in, you can easily change the PIN.
Hope this helps.
Fix 2 – Use I forgot my PIN
There is another quick option that you can use to alter the PIN without accessing your account.
1. Once you reach the Sign-in page, tap on “I forgot my PIN“.
Now, you have to wait until the account console appears on your screen.
3. Next, input your account password and tap “Sign in“.
4. You have to verify your identity. So, tap the “Email” option so the Microsoft Account Team sends you the 7-digit verification code.
Open the email account on your smartphone/tablet or any other device.
5. Then, note down the code from there.
5. Coming back to your PC, input the code in the appropriate location.
6. Then, click “Verify” to complete the verification.
Once this is verified, a warning message appears.
7. Click “Continue” to proceed to the final step.
8. Just, input your new PIN once in the first box and then, re-enter the PIN in the second box to confirm it.
9. After that, tap “OK“.
This shall directly lead you to past the Sign in page. Now, you can use the new PIN from the next time onwards.
Fix 3 – Reset the account PIN in Safe Mode
As you can’t directly log in to your account using the normal way, you have to boot the system in Safe Mode and reset the account PIN from there.
Step 1 – Boot in Safe Mode
1. On the Log in the page, click on the power icon once.
2. Then, press & hold the Shift key on your keyboard and tap “Restart” to restart the system in the Windows Recovery Mode.
Wait for Windows to startup in the Recovery Mode.
3. This process may take a while. But, when you reach the Choose an Option screen, tap the “Troubleshoot” option.
5. Here on the next screen, you will notice two options. Click on “Advanced options“.
6. This opens up various tools and options for Windows users. Then, click on “Startup Settings” to access it.
7. Now, just click “Restart” to restart the system.
9. Your system restarts after this. You may see various startup settings on the next screen.
10. You have to just hit the F4 key to choose the “Enable Safe Mode” option.
This way, your can restart your computer in Safe Mode. This way, you don’t have to enter the login credentials and you can still boot into the system.
In Safe Mode, the whole desktop appears to be pitch black, and ‘Safe Mode’ is written on all four corners.
Step 2 – Change the PIN/password
Now, you can easily change the device PIN/password.
1. You can open the Settings from a terminal.
2. So, once your device successfully boots up, press the ⊞ Win key+I keys at once.
3. On the Run box, paste this and click “OK“.
ms-settings:
4. On the Settings page, click on “Accounts” from the left pane.
5. Then, on the right-hand section, click “Sign-in options“.
6. On the same right-hand pane, tap the arrow key beside the “PIN (Windows Hello)” to expand it.
7. Now you have two things that you can do.
Change PIN option – If you can recall your old PIN (which wasn’t working). This way, you can create a new four-digit PIN for your system and use that.
I forgot my PIN option – This option is useful in case you have forgotten the older PIN. But, you have to verify your account credentials.
8. Steps for the ‘I forgot my PIN’ option is just the same as the steps of FIX 2.
9. Once you click on the “Change PIN” option, a box will open up.
10. Now, enter the old PIN in the first box.
11. Then, input the new PIN in the second box and do the same for the third box to confirm the PIN.
12. Once you are done, click “OK“.
Now, close the Settings page and restart your system.
Fix 4 – Give sufficient permission to the NGC folder
The absence of proper permission for the NGC folder may lead to this issue.
1. On the Sign in page, press&hold the Shift key and tap “Restart” to restart the system in Recovery mode.
2. Then, go this way to start your computer in Safe Mode –
Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart
3. Then, press the “F4” key to boot the system in Safe Mode.
4. Once you reach the Desktop, navigate to this location –
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft
5. Look for the “Ngc” folder there.
6. Then, right-tap that folder and tap “Properties“.
7. After that, go to the “Security” section.
8. Then, tap the “Advanced” option.
9. On the Advanced Security page, click “Change” beside the ‘Owner:’ box.
10. Now, tap “Advanced“.
11. Then, tap “Find Now“.
12. Next, select your account from the list of accounts and click “OK“.
13. Now, tap “OK” to confirm your action.
14. Coming back to the main screen, check the “Replace owner on subcontainers and objects“.
15. Then, click “Apply” and “OK” to save the changes.
16. Again, click on “Advanced“.
17. In the Advanced Security Settings window, click “Add“.
18. Then, tap “Select a principle“.
19. Next, click “Advanced” to access the list of groups and users.
20. Next, tap “Find Now“.
21. Next, select your account from the list of accounts and click “OK“.
22. Now, tap “OK” to confirm your action.
23. Next, check the “Full Control” box.
24. Later, tap “Apply” and “OK” to save it.
25. Finally, check the “Replace all child object permission entries with inheritable permission entries from this object“.
26. Tap “Apply” and “OK” to apply and save changes.
Now, restart your computer. Now, try to input your account credentials to log in successfully.
Fix 5 – Reset ACLs of the NGC folder
ACL or Access Control List usually are connected to the NGC folder. So, if this relationship is corrupt, you have to reset the ACLs.
1. Boot your system in the Safe Mode following the steps we have detailed before.
2. Once you have booted into the Safe Mode, press the Win key+R keys together.
3. Then, type this in the Run terminal and press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys together.
4. When you have opened the CMD terminal as an administrator, paste this and hit Enter.
icacls C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Ngc /T /Q /C /RESET
After that, close the Command Prompt terminal. Then, restart the system. Try to log in normally and test.
Fix 6 – Remove the NGC folder
Even after giving proper permission to the NGC folder doesn’t solve your issue, you can directly remove the NGC folder from your computer.
1. At first, start up the system in the Safe Mode.
2. When the device boots up, head down to this folder –
C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\Microsoft
3. Inside the Microsoft folder, select the “Ngc” folder.
4. Then, click on the bin icon to remove the folder.
5. Next, press the Win key+R keys together.
6. Then, type “services.msc” there and click “OK” to access the Services utility.
7. When the Services screen opens up, right-click the “Credential Manager” service and tap “Properties“.
8. Now, set the ‘Startup type:’ to the “Automatic” setting.
9. Finally, tap “Apply” and “OK“.
After deleting the Ngc folder and automating the Credential Manager service, close the Microsoft folder and restart your computer. Windows do rebuild the Ngc folder while the system restarts.
Now, as the system normally starts up, try to use the PIN to log in to your account.
Sambit is a Mechanical Engineer By qualification who loves to write about Windows 10 and solutions to weirdest possible problems.
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